‘There Is Only One Maldives on Earth,’ Says Eagle Hills Chairman Mohamed Alabbar

Eagle Hills Chairman Mohamed Alabbar has described the Maldives as a unique global destination, saying the opportunity to invest in the country carries particular significance for the developer.

In a post shared by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Alabbar spoke about his vision for Eagle Hills’ investment in the Maldives and the company’s interest in developing projects in the country.

“There is only one Maldives in the world,” Alabbar said.

"There's only one Maldives in the world."

Eagle Hills Chairman Mohamed Alabbar shares his vision for investing in the Maldives—focusing on local economic impact, sustainability, and executing every project from the heart. pic.twitter.com/JAnqsi8NBn

— Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Dev. (@MIHUDmv) September 21, 2026

He described the Maldives as a destination that represents a “beautiful dream” for people around the world, saying he was particularly enthusiastic when Eagle Hills was approached about the opportunity to work with the country.

“The reality of the Maldives for everyone on Earth is like a beautiful dream. And when I first got the message that they are interested in talking to us, I jumped,” Alabbar said.

He said the uniqueness of the Maldives was a key factor in the company’s interest in undertaking a major development in the country.

“If we are trusted to do something special, then I promise you that we are going to do it well because it’s such a pleasure for us,” he said.

Alabbar’s remarks come as Eagle Hills moves forward with the proposed Maldives Waterfront and Marina development in Ras Malé, a large-scale project combining tourism, residential and commercial components.

Alabbar said Eagle Hills had gained experience over the past 28 years, including lessons from mistakes made during its previous projects.

“Over the past 28 years, we have learnt a lot of things, and we have made lots of mistakes,” he said.

He said that experience would allow the company to approach the Maldives project with greater knowledge and fewer mistakes.

“Because of all this learning, we will have minimal mistakes,” Alabbar said.

He also said the objective was to create “a life that is unparalleled”, without providing further details in the post about how that vision would be implemented.

Alabbar said he remains closely involved in the company’s developments and is supported by a team that works to ensure projects are delivered to a high standard.

 He added a personal touch to his remarks, saying the importance of doing the work well was something he took seriously, joking that his “mother would be really upset” if they did not.

The Government of Maldives and Eagle Hills recently signed commercial terms for the project. The development is planned across approximately 500 hectares of Ras Malé and is expected to be implemented in multiple phases.

The government has described the development as having an investment value of around USD 20 billion, while Eagle Hills has referred to it as a USD 12 billion global destination in its announcement of the agreement.

The project is expected to include hotels and resorts, residential properties, a marina, retail and dining facilities, entertainment, education, healthcare and other commercial developments.

Eagle Hills Chairman Alabbar has also said construction could begin in the first quarter of 2027.

Alabbar is the founder and chairman of Eagle Hills, a private real estate investment and development company based in Abu Dhabi. He is also the founder of Emaar Properties and has been involved in major real estate, hospitality and mixed-use developments in the UAE and internationally. His portfolio includes world-famous landmarks built by Emaar such as the Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, and the broader Downtown Dubai master development